Hemel Hempstead & Braintree

[Saluki]

I know they are a bit apart but wondering if anyone actually lives in or near these places and can tell me what it's like to live there.
Looking at exchanging, as you know, and 2 flats with tenants desperate to swap and move to my area. One to be nearer aging parents, the other to be closer to Gt Yarmouth.

After a despairing few weeks of contacting people about exchanges and being mucked about, we now have 4 in the running but the Braintree and Hemel flats are the hot faves at the moment. We go to view them on Saturday.
The other 2 are in Norwich but we really need to move away as trying to stop work is actually quite difficult. If we are not here, I can't groom I can soon start another dog walking business and keep on going with the nappy cake biz. We'll not starve starting over.

I would like to know about how the areas are for cycling and general uppy downiness too I've looked on Wiki and on interweb for general info but 'people knowledge' is a lot better IMO.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ianrauk]

@jayonabike is your man for Hemel.

The cycling in them there parts is bloody fantastic.

 

[MikeG]

I am not a million miles from Braintree, and my wife works there.

The countryside around Braintree is cycling paradise. It is a mecca for international professional cyclists, and clubs come out of London every weekend to ride in the area's quiet lanes and beautiful countryside. I couldn't comment on living in Braintree, except to say that, as with everywhere, some areas are better than others.

 

[Saluki]

Thank you.
We are having a look-see this weekend.

 

[jayonabike]

5 minutes out of Hemel and your in the countryside. Rolling country lanes and B roads. If you head 10 miles out to the west of Hemel your in the Aylesbury vale which is flat and then onto to Bedfordshire. South and south west takes you into the Chiltern hills, once over them your into flat Oxfordshire. Head out east past St. Albans and Stevenage and your in north North Herts and all it's little villages and onto Essex. So you have a mixture of everything really, rolling countryside, hills, and flat bits.Lots of lovely cycling country right on your doorstep.

 

[Headgardener]

You mean somebody is happy to live above your batty neighbour Saluki.

 

[Saluki]

You mean somebody is happy to live above your batty neighbour Saluki.

Shhhhh. I haven't mentioned that she is a total PITA.
I've said that she's a nice neighbour who mows the lawn. She is being very nice at the moment as she'll soon be moved out and wants me to take the dogs out for a walk while she is having her flat viewed by prospective exchangers.

The flat we viewed today (In Norwich) was lovely but we really could do with moving away, healthwise. The lady who wants our place is pregnant. I can just imagine what her downstairs would be like with a crying baby above her!

 

[Saluki]

5 minutes out of Hemel and your in the countryside. Rolling country lanes and B roads. If you head 10 miles out to the west of Hemel your in the Aylesbury vale which is flat and then onto to Bedfordshire. South and south west takes you into the Chiltern hills, once over them your into flat Oxfordshire. Head out east past St. Albans and Stevenage and your in north North Herts and all it's little villages and onto Essex. So you have a mixture of everything really, rolling countryside, hills, and flat bits.Lots of lovely cycling country right on your doorstep.

The place we are looking at is in the Woodhall Farm area. It used to be the Brocks factory land by all accounts. We are hoping that it's not as rough as guts.

Eldest Sis-in-law lives just down the way in London Colney. Eldest Sis-in-law is lovely and Hubster would quite like to live near her for a while at least.
The cycling sounds awesome. We've noted the canal nearby too.

 

[Headgardener]

Shhhhh. I haven't mentioned that she is a total PITA.
I've said that she's a nice neighbour who mows the lawn. She is being very nice at the moment as she'll soon be moved out and wants me to take the dogs out for a walk while she is having her flat viewed by prospective exchangers.

The flat we viewed today (In Norwich) was lovely but we really could do with moving away, healthwise. The lady who wants our place is pregnant. I can just imagine what her downstairs would be like with a crying baby above her!

Opps! Sorry. Hopefuly they didn't hear.